NM Semifinalist Denied Scholarships?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
1

<p>My son applied to Bama and for its scholarships with a 4.0 GPA (number 1 in class), a 34 on the ACT, a 1470/2260 on the SAT, 5 on all APs, and an 800 and 780 on SAT IIs. He’s also a National Merit Semifinalist. However, he just saw a message that says, “I’m sorry. You do not have any scholarships this year.” </p>

<p>Is this common? He applied to Bama as a financial safety because we were told that he’s guaranteed a full ride. This seems a bit outrageous. Kids with a 24 and 1060 are eligible for these scholarships.</p>

2

<p>^^^Relax. Whatever message you saw is not an accurate reflection of what is to come. The NMF “full ride” is guaranteed. My son was awarded it this year without a hitch. No worries, mate; UA will sort it out.</p>

3

<p>I’m betting the ‘this year’ is actually 2010-2011.</p>

4

<p>@momofonly1</p>

<p>That’s what we thought, too, but the link is supposed to be the one for “applied freshmen.” Perhaps this is just something that needs to be fixed on the website?</p>

5

<p>jwilliams…</p>

<p>Don’t worry. Your child will get his scholarships. </p>

<p>The link that you’re looking at is for the CURRENT school year. Your child isn’t being given scholarships for this current school year.</p>

<p>Please copy/paste where the link is located.</p>

6

<p>Here’s what’s posted as guaranteed for 2011-12: [Out-of-State</a> Scholarships - Undergraduate Scholarships - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html]Out-of-State”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html)</p>

<p>Here’s what’s posted for the NMF scholarship (it appears not to have been updated for 2011-12): [Top</a> Scholars Program - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/topscholars/nmpackage.html]Top”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/topscholars/nmpackage.html)</p>

7

<p>From MyBama</p>

<p>Admissions </p>

<p>Undergraduate Admissions</p>

<pre><code>* Application for Admission

  • Check Admission Application Status
  • Major List
  • Academic Catalog
  • Cost of Attendance
  • International Admissions
  • Become an Alabama VIP
    </code></pre>

<p>Admitted Undergraduate Students</p>

<pre><code>* Submit Freshman Enrollment Deposit

  • Orientation Registration
    o Video
    o Bama Bound Evaluation
  • Application Major Change
    </code></pre>

<p>The Honors College</p>

<pre><code>* Honors College Application

  • University Fellows Application
    </code></pre>

<hr>

<p>*That’s what we thought, too, but the link is supposed to be the one for “applied freshmen.” *</p>

<p>I think it says…currently **enrolled **freshmen… (Your child is not enrolled.)</p>

<p>See below…I copied/pasted from mybama</p>

<p>Scholarships (Undergraduate Students)</p>

<pre><code>* Currently Enrolled Students Scholarship
</code></pre>

8

<p>Has your son been accepted to Bama? If so, he will soon get his Presidential scholarship letter. </p>

<p>Then, when he’s named a finalist, he’ll get another letter with the rest of the scholarship.</p>

<p>Also…what major did he put down? If he put down Engineering or Computer Science, then he’ll also get an additional scholarship for $2500 per year. That will come under a separate letter.</p>

9

<p>Scholarships (Applied Freshmen & Transfers)</p>

<p>Application for Scholarships
Alumni Degree Holder Form
Scholarship Offers</p>

<p>“Scholarship Offers” is the one that led to the message. I really think it’s an error; the website has been under maintenance lately. It just startled him because that page was previously inaccessible, and the first time he was allowed to see it, it gave an “I’m sorry…” message.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids He chose pre-med for his major.</p>

10

<p>I have a scholarship question. I was under the assumption that if you were accepted into Honors that you did not have to apply for scholarship because it was automatic. Is this true or does my son need to go through the formality? (OOS and not a NMF, but a 36 ACT so he should receive something)</p>

11

<p>^ My son was confused about that, too. He said that he applied one night for the heck of it. It only took a few minutes because there are no essays. It couldn’t hurt. (With a 36 ACT, there’s little your son could do wrong at Bama anyway!)</p>

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<p>*I was under the assumption that if you were accepted into Honors that you did not have to apply for scholarship because it was automatic. Is this true or does my son need to go through the formality? (OOS and not a NMF, but a 36 ACT so he should receive something) *</p>

<p>YES…HE MUST submit the scholarship app. The scholarship is ASSURED for stats as long as you submit both apps by Dec 1st, but that’s not the same as “automatic”.</p>

<p>So…get that scholarship app submitted ASAP!!! :slight_smile: With his stats, if he submits his scholarship app now, he’ll get free tuition (at least!) </p>

<p>What did he put as his major???</p>

13

<p>M2ck is correct. Perhaps the information on this link will help answer some of the questions about applying for scholarships: [Entering</a> Freshman Students - Undergraduate Scholarships - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/freshmen/]Entering”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/freshmen/)</p>

14

<p>*@mom2collegekids He chose pre-med for his major. *</p>

<p>I know that Bama has “pre-med” listed as a major on the app, but it’s not a major. </p>

<p>Universities don’t really have “pre-med majors.” Students major in what they want, but must complete several courses in bio, chem, organic chem, physics, and calculus. Those are the commonly-held requirements for med schools. </p>

<p>I suggest that your son choose a major (bio, chemistry, chemical engineering, whatever he likes) so that he could be considered for any dept scholarships. For instance, if he majored in some kind of engineering (such as chemical engineering), he’d get an additional $2500 per year.</p>

<p>He can go to Mybama, academics tab, left column, and select a major.</p>

15

<p>JWilliams…</p>

<p>Has your son been accepted? Has he submitted his scholarship app? If so, when did he do so?</p>

<p>Please tell us the timeline of what’s been done on your end.</p>

16

<p>My son has applied and gotten accepted to Bama. He is a National Merit Semifinalist. He’s under the impression that he does not need to fill out the Scholarship application in order to qualify for the full ride. Does he need to fill out the Scholarship application anyway? I just worry he may leave something on the table if he doesn’t. No essays? What does he have to lose? Thanks!</p>

17

<p>Please tell him to fill out the scholarship application NOW. Here’s what the UA website says:</p>

<p>

[emphasis mine]</p>

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<p>Thanks. Will do.</p>

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<p>And just to beat the horse to death so nobody slips between the cracks, here’s more from UA (<a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/faq/):%5B/url%5D”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/faq/):</a></p>

<p>

</p>

20

<p>Actually, reading the portion about the National Merit Finalist package mentions that students will be eligible for the package even if they don’t apply by the scholarship deadline. I wonder, though, if students might be eligible for other scholarships that might cover things not covered by the NMSF package (I don’t notice books or board covered)? I have written to ask UA this question.</p>